An overlooked Arsenal academy product shares an interesting link to the 2026 World Cup hosts.
Only one current player heading to the tournament has played senior football for two of those countries: Mexico 's Brian Gutierrez, who previously represented the USA.
Another player was almost set to share that same distinction. And he came through Arsenal's academy.
Marcelo Flores is probably not a name that will immediately register with Gunners fans. But his story is a fascinating one with regards to this summer's tournament.
Marcelo Flores is 22 now, but back in 2019, he joined Arsenal from Ipswich Town after being discovered on the Cayman Islands, where his father was managing the women's national team.
Flores signed his first professional contract at the Emirates in October 2020 and was named in The Guardian's Next Generation list that year, which spotlighted some of football's most promising young talents.
He even made the bench for a Premier League match against Crystal Palace in April 2022, though he never made a senior appearance for the club.
Born in Georgetown, Ontario, to a Canadian mother and Mexican father, Flores was eligible to represent Canada , Mexico or England .
He featured for England at under-16 level and explored his options with Canada before ultimately committing to Mexico.
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
After earning three senior caps for Mexico, he made the switch to Canada earlier this year. His decision met FIFA's criteria since he earned those appearances before turning 21.
"It was my dream to play for the Mexican national team because that's the only thing I had been through… until Jesse told me to open my eyes," he said.
Flores had been included in Canada's 26-man squad for the World Cup, a call-up that would have seen him become the only active player at the tournament to represent two of the three host nations.
But just a day later, while playing for Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, he ruptured his ACL. The injury put an end to his World Cup hopes before they could get going.
After leaving Arsenal in 2023 to join Tigres, Flores continued his progress, even scoring a quick-fire hat-trick against Necaxa in 2024.
At just 22, time is still on his side. There will be other opportunities to play on the world stage, and there's no reason he can't take one of them when it comes around.
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